BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The plasminogen activation system plays a crucial role in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. To evaluate the most effective factor in the invasion, metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, PAI-2 and uPA activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in HCC tissues obtained from 46 patients. The results were compared with the patients' clinicopathological features and prognoses. RESULTS: Of the clinicopathological features, only histological portal involvement or intrahepatic metastasis, or both (INV), was significantly correlated to the disease-free survival rates (DFS; P < 0.05). The levels of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens were significantly associated with INV and histological grade. The DFS was not different, however, between cases with uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 values above and below the median. The high levels of uPA activity were closely related to INV (P < 0.001), and the activity gradually raised histological grades (P < 0.0001). The DFS was significantly different between patients with uPA activity below and above the median (0.70 ng/mL; P = 0.0092); it was also significantly different between such patients without INV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity may be the most sensitive factor affecting HCC invasion in the plasminogen activation system and a strong predictor for the recurrence of HCC. We suggest that cases with uPA activity of more than 0.70 ng/mL should be carefully followed up for possible HCC recurrence.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The plasminogen activation system plays a crucial role in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. To evaluate the most effective factor in the invasion, metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, PAI-2 and uPA activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in HCC tissues obtained from 46 patients. The results were compared with the patients' clinicopathological features and prognoses. RESULTS: Of the clinicopathological features, only histological portal involvement or intrahepatic metastasis, or both (INV), was significantly correlated to the disease-free survival rates (DFS; P < 0.05). The levels of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens were significantly associated with INV and histological grade. The DFS was not different, however, between cases with uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 values above and below the median. The high levels of uPA activity were closely related to INV (P < 0.001), and the activity gradually raised histological grades (P < 0.0001). The DFS was significantly different between patients with uPA activity below and above the median (0.70 ng/mL; P = 0.0092); it was also significantly different between such patients without INV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity may be the most sensitive factor affecting HCC invasion in the plasminogen activation system and a strong predictor for the recurrence of HCC. We suggest that cases with uPA activity of more than 0.70 ng/mL should be carefully followed up for possible HCC recurrence.
Authors: Elizabete Bagordakis; Iris Sawazaki-Calone; Carolina Carneiro Soares Macedo; Carolina M Carnielli; Carine Ervolino de Oliveira; Priscila Campioni Rodrigues; Ana Lucia C A Rangel; Jean Nunes Dos Santos; Juha Risteli; Edgard Graner; Tuula Salo; Adriana Franco Paes Leme; Ricardo D Coletta Journal: Tumour Biol Date: 2016-01-13